diff --git a/include/xlnt/cell/cell.hpp b/include/xlnt/cell/cell.hpp
index 74a5b6cb..f77f6d31 100644
--- a/include/xlnt/cell/cell.hpp
+++ b/include/xlnt/cell/cell.hpp
@@ -240,6 +240,11 @@ public:
     /// </summary>
     column_t column() const;
 
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Returns the numeric index (A == 1) of the column of this cell.
+    /// </summary>
+    column_t::index_t column_index() const;
+
     /// <summary>
     /// Returns the row of this cell.
     /// </summary>
diff --git a/source/cell/cell.cpp b/source/cell/cell.cpp
index 22b10f49..4426a5dc 100644
--- a/source/cell/cell.cpp
+++ b/source/cell/cell.cpp
@@ -314,6 +314,11 @@ column_t cell::column() const
     return d_->column_;
 }
 
+column_t::index_t cell::column_index() const
+{
+    return d_->column_.index;
+}
+
 void cell::merged(bool merged)
 {
     d_->is_merged_ = merged;